Diphtheria infection coats and blocks the back of the throat and can cause a range of symptoms including difficulty breathing and swallowing, heart problems, paralysis and death.

Tetanus, commonly known as lockjaw, leads to muscle spasms that can “lock” the patient’s jaw so breathing and swallowing become impossible. One in 10 people who contract tetanus die.

Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, leads to severe coughing spells that do not allow the patient to breathe and can develop into pneumonia, seizures and death.

Prevention is the key to not contracting diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. The most effective preventive method is the DTaP vaccine (given to infants and children under 7 years of age) or Tdap vaccine (available for use among those who are between 10 to 64 years of age).

When did the DTaP and Tdap vaccines become available?
In the 1940s, the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine  was given to children routinely in the United States to protect against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. In 1991, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed the current DTaP vaccine, which is associated with fewer reactions than the DTP formulation. The old DTP is no longer used in the United States, but is still used in other parts of the world.

Due to widespread use of the DTaP vaccine, diphtheria has gone from being one of the major causes of death in children to being extremely rare in the United States. The vaccine also has made tetanus a rarity in this country, but for those who are infected there is still no uniformly effective treatment. Pertussis or whooping cough remains uncommon in vaccinated infants and children, but it is increasing in adolescents and young adults and in infants too young to be vaccinated. The United States Food and Drug Administration licensed a tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine in 2005 for use in adolescents and adults. Learn more about how vaccines are licensed.

How does someone become infected with diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis?
Diphtheria and pertussis are transmitted from person to person. Tetanus is contracted by contamination of an open wound or cut.

How effective are DTaP and Tdap vaccines?
Diphtheria and tetanus infections are rare in the United States as a result of DTaP and Td vaccines. Pertussis is increasing in adolescents and young adults because protection against pertussis from vaccination or disease lasts only five to eight years. That is why the Tdap booster should be given at 11 or 12 years of age. All adolescents and adults up to 64 years of age should receive the Tdap booster vaccine.
 

What are the possible side effects of the DTaP or Tdap vaccines?
Serious risks from the DTaP or Tdap vaccines are quite rare compared to the life-threatening risks associated with contracting diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.

Mild side effects of the DTaP vaccine may include:

• injection-site soreness
• fever
• nausea
• irritability
• poor appetite and fatigue

Infrequent moderate side effects may include seizures, high fever and incessant crying (three hours or longer). In very rare cases (less than one of 1 million doses), a serious allergic reaction may occur.

Mild side effects from the Tdap vaccine may include:

• injection-site soreness, swelling or redness
• mild fever

Immunization is the best thing you can do for your child and yourself to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.